DAP chairperson and Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh returned to Parliament today, marking the end of his six-month suspension from last September for misleading the House over the oath-taking ceremony for parliamentarians.

The veteran politician could have returned during the March/April session when his suspension officially ended, but was then still recovering from a car accident in January.

Karpal suffered a spinal injury and had to undergo intensive treatment. He also needs assistance when standing or walking.

Nevertheless, he chose to return to the House this morning in a wheelchair after nine months.

Party colleagues greeted him when he arrived at 11.40am, accompanied by his wife Gurmit Kaur, son Ram Karpal Singh, daughter Sangeet Kaur Deo and relatives.

He proceeded into the House where he has been given a new seat next to Fong Po Kuan (DAP-Batu Gajah) to accommodate his wheelchair - a stand microphone was set up for him.

Seat-belt usage

After 50 minutes, he held a press conference, during which he expressed gratitude to the Parliament office for making these arrangements.

He said he hoped the government would enact legislation to make it compulsory for car passengers in the backseat to wear seat belt.

"I will make every attempt to come daily for the rest of the session," he said, also quipping that he has "a pretty MP" sitting next to him now.

Karpal undergoes physiotherapy at the Hospital Kuala Lumpur every morning for two hours and a further two-and-a-half hour session thrice-weekly at a private clinic, according to a New Straits Times report today.

Meanwhile, MIC secretary-general S Sothinathan - who was suspended last Wednesday as deputy minister for three months - was in the House today for the first time following the disciplinary action taken against him. He sat among the backbenchers.

Asked about the effects of the suspension on him, the Teluk Kemang MP merely replied: "life must goes on."

Sothinathan, who is deputy minister for natural resources and environment, was dramatically suspended for breaching Barisan Nasional discipline during a heated parliamentary debate last Tuesday over the Crimea State Medical University (CSMU) issue.